‘This week show us a change in progress…’
I’d been exploring the rose greenhouse at The Arbor Gate in Tomball, Texas (one of my favourite garden centres anywhere in the world) when I spotted these painted beehives. I found my way round to them so I could watch the bees flying in and out.
Soon afterwards, I spotted two mysterious people with a smoke machine.
The beekeepers were concerned to keep me safe (and to keep the bees calm), so I promised to stand well back and keep quiet while they worked their magic on the bees.
I have to confess I have no idea what they were doing – perhaps someone out there knows! I think they were either harvesting bees and changing their home or changing the honey filled frame for a new one. The hushed atmosphere made it seem a miraculous, reverent process.
How amazing it must be to spend your life working in tune with these small creatures – and how lucky we are that there are people who know how to do this! To learn more about the beekeepers, BZHoney, visit their website. It’s packed with interesting snippets about their ancient art.
The Arbor Gate’s website is well worth a visit too. I promise to post more pictures from this colourful garden centre in Tomball, NW Texas before too long, but for now I’ll leave you with just a snippet of the creative inspiration gardeners will find during any visit. It’s an unusual water feature… no garden should be without one!
I firmly believe British gardens are the poorer because we don’t embrace quirky garden art and decor with the same joy and freedom as so many American gardeners. Just my view! But that’s for another day too.
Shared as part of the Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: change.
Susan Rushton 
I love that water feature! What a clever way to repurpose the old washing machine.
The rust is such a great colour.
Hey, that’s us! You took some great pictures. To clear the air, we used some bees from these hives to raise our new queens. Good luck with the challenge!
Thanks for stopping by and clearing up the mystery – and hello again! The bees were changing queens! I hope they’re doing well in their new homes.
The challenges are fun rather than competition – any response that fits the theme works. You might think about entering one day: you’ve got some wonderful pictures.
Ah, I don’t know. This artsy stuff in gardens sometimes looks kind of awful….
That’s what I used to think, because I was so used to British gardens. I do love a classic cottage garden stuffed so full of flowering plants that there’s hardly room for a winding path, let alone anything else, but relatively few people are blessed with those.
And I have to confess I’ve turned my nose up at gnomes, flamingos and stone windmills in the past – but not these days. I’ve realised how much character and individuality it takes (especially in the UK – I’m not sure about Europe) to brave the response of people around you and express yourself the way you want.
I don’t walk through an art gallery and like everything on display, and the same goes for garden art. It’s only human to have preferences. All I can say is, it took a little time to get my eye in, but I’m a happier person since I opened up my heart to the fun of garden art.
Maybe I am all wrong… But hey, if you like it, that’s fine. The world would be a poor place, if everyone were alkie…
I’m not saying wrong: I agree with you wholeheartedly that it wouldn’t do for us to all think the same. That’s one of the reasons I like garden art so much – that it allows people to be different.
Your post and pictures are beautiful. When I was in NYC last Saturday at the Farmer’s market, there was a beekeeper with hi bees and his honey. It is fascinating to watch the beekeeper work with those little creatures who make such a tasty treat.
Thank you – we saw a beekeeper with bees at a local UK show too and I tried to get pictures but they wouldn’t keep still!
Perfect timing for the bees!
The washing machine is cool, but I think it reminds me too much of a few of the neighbor’s ‘collections’. I’m sure if I looked long enough here I could find a water filled washer…. but it just might be missing the fountain part and only have mosquitos and a green sludge at the bottom 🙂
I know what you mean – there’s a fine art to found art. In a domestic setting with random junk, it’s junk with potential. Placed in a corner of a beautifully maintained, funky, high-end plant centre, it looks great!
Call me a chicken, but I’m deeply suspicious of water features where there are mosquitos. My sweetheart assures me moving water doesn’t attract them, but as the mosquitos consistently rate me high on the tastiness scale, I’d prefer not to risk it.